Golf Putting Practice Device

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a golf practice putting device comprised of a lower section and an upper section being rotatably attached via hinge means. Panel inserts have a felt material or other turf like material thereon, and are mountable on the sections. Openings are formed in the upper section and panel insert for golf balls to exit into a capture area. Opposed elevation means are secured to the upper section. The elevation means allow the angle of the putting surface to be modified according the slope the player desires. Platforms are securely engaged with the elevation means to provide stability balance.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a portable putting practice devicehaving sections connected by a hinge for easy transport and storage,panel inserts having the capacity to provide a variety of puttingsurfaces, and elevation means to change the angle of elevation for theputting surface.

Similar portable practice devices are known in the prior art. Thepresent invention is an improvement over these devices because thesections are hingedly attached to break down for storage and theelevation means provides an easily adjustable configuration. Simulatedturf material is secured to the panel inserts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The general purpose of the present invention, which will be describedsubsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved golfpractice putting device.

To attain this, the present invention comprises a lower section and anupper section being rotatably attached. Opposed elevation means areprovided through apertures in upstanding walls disposed on the uppersurface of the upper section. The elevation means allow the angle of theputting surface to be modified according the slope the player desires.Support platforms are provided to stabilize the elevation means. Panelinsert, with turf like material disposed on an upper surface of theinserts, are moutable on the upper and lower sections. A cup opening isdefined through the upper section and turf material.

A rim integrally formed with the cup opening and insertable membersmounted on the rim a variety of diameter openings for different skillsets of the user.

It is an object of the present invention to provide for an indoor golfputting practice device which is easily transportable through hingemeans attaching the upper and lower sections.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide removeablepanel inserts to allow for a variety of styles and types of puttingsurfaces.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide supportplatforms to secure elevation means to reduce movement and providestability on uneven ground.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those setforth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the present invention with panel insertsdismounted.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial view of an upper section.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the present invention employing thehinge means.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the elevation adjustment means.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of cup and frame along lines 7-7 ofFIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In reference to FIGS. 1-4, a golf putting practice device 10 is shown.The device 10 is comprised of a first planar upper section 12 and asecond planar lower section 14. Each section has an upper surface and alower surface, a first end and second end, and side edges. The uppersection 12 has a passage 40 therethrough at a pre-determined location.Opposed upstanding parallel side walls 16 are formed on the uppersurface of the sections 12, 14 attached to the side edges. A first endwall 18 with a front facing, back facing and top facing is integrallyformed on the second end of the upper section 12 with the parallel sidewalls 16. A second end wall 20 may be integrally formed on the first endof the lower section 14 perpendicular to the side walls 16 of the lowersection 14. Alternately, a passage is defined when the second end wall20 is removed.

The lower surface of the first end of the upper section 12 is attachedto the second end of the lower section 14 via hinge means 42, and in thefirst position of the hinge means 42 the sections 12, 14 are parallel toform an integrated putting surface. The hinge means 42 permits thesections 12, 14 to be rotatable in relation to each other so that whenin the second closed position of the hinge means 42 the upper surfacesof each section 12, 14 are parallel. The hinge means 42 are preferablyhinge bosses with complementary hinge pins. As illustrated in FIG. 5,the device 10 can be folded for transport or storage.

A partition 50 is affixed to the upper surface of the upper section 12and lower 14.

The partition 50 has a curvilinear outer surface, a planer base, frontportion 52, side portions 54, and peripheral inner and outer edges alongthe front portion 52 and side portions 54. The partition 50 ispreferably made of wood composite. A channel 56 is defined by innersurfaces of the front portion 52 and side portions 54 of the partition50, and the upper surfaces of the upper section 12 and lower section 14.The side portions 54 of the partition 50 are generally alignedperpendicular to each other.

A first panel insert 60 and a second panel insert 70, with upper andlower surfaces, are illustrated in FIG. 2. The inserts are removeableand securely mountable to the upper section 12 and lower section 14 inthe defined provided channel 56. The first panel insert 60 has aperipheral front edge 62 of predetermined shape to mount securelyagainst the front portion 52 of the partition 50, and peripheral sideedges 64 to securely abut against the side portions 54 of the partition50. The second panel insert 70 has a peripheral front edge 72,peripheral side edges 74 and a peripheral rear edge 76. The front edge72 of the second panel insert 70 abuts against a rear edge 66 of thefirst panel insert 60. The first panel insert 60 has a passage 68complimentary with the passage 40 of the upper section 12.

Simulated turf material 22, such as felt, is secured to the uppersurface of the first panel insert 60 and the upper surface of the secondpanel insert 70. The material provides consistent putting surface forpractice. It should be recognized that different coverings can beinstalled to provide a variety of undulations and a variety ofthicknesses. Thus, the surfaces can be provided to simulate actualputting conditions for the user. For an example, the turf material onthe first panel insert 60 may be angled to simulate a break in theputting surface, while the second panel insert 70 has a flattercomposition.

The passage 68 of the first panel insert 60 is aligned with the passage40 of the upper section 12 to define a cup opening to allow golf ballsto exit from the putting surface. A rim 28 having a top surface and alower surface is integrally formed in the opening. Insert members 26having a top surface and a lower surface, turf material 22 secured tothe top surface, and having a hole therethrough, are mountable on therim 28. The apertures of the insert members 26 have alternate diametersto provide a variety of targets for the cup opening. The insert members26 thus allow more of a challenge for a player to make a practice putt.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, a cup 80 is detachably mounted to the lowersurface of the upper section 12. A frame 82 comprised of side walls anda base wall, protects the cup.

When mounted the panel inserts 60, 70 provide an elevated surfacerelative to the remainder of the upper section 12 and the lower section14. A slot 24 is defined between the outer perimeter of the partition50, and the end wall 18 of the upper section 12 and the side walls 16 ofthe lower section 14 and upper section 12. Any golf balls exceeding theperimeter of the partition 50 are propelled into the slot 24, and eitherreturn to the base of the device 10 because of the elevation, or areretrieved by the player. By having the elevated panel inserts, puttingaccuracy and putter alignment, are more readily taught.

Opposed elevation adjustment means 30 are provided to allow the user toelevate the putting surface of the device 10 as desired. The adjustmentmeans 30 are secured to the upper section 12. The preferred method ofadjustment means 30 is illustrated in FIG. 5, and is comprised of anoutwardly threaded rod 32 with a knob 34 at a first end and a round headnut 36 at a second end. The rod 32 is placed through a threaded brassinsert 38 mounted in a bore formed in the side walls 16 of the uppersection 12. The brass insert 38 securely engages with the rod 32 tostabilize movement. The device 10 is raised and lowered by turning theknob 34.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-2 and 6, support platforms 90 are providedupon which to mount the adjustment means 30. The platforms 90 have lowersurface and upper surface, and are generally rectangular shaped. Theupper surface of the platform has integrally formed indentations 92therein, to securely engage with the head nut 36 of the elevation means30. The lower surface of the platform 90 is in contact with groundsurface.

When combined the elevation means 30 and platforms 90 provide alternatesettings for the slope of the putting surface. Adjustments can be madeto compensate for uneven ground surfaces, and the adjustment means 30 onone side of the device 10 can be raised or lowered, simulating a breakin the putting surface. Each elevation means 30 can be independently toadjust the angle of the slope.

In use a player stands at the first end of the lower section 14 afteradjusting the elevation of the putting surface. The player can retrievethe golf balls after successful putting the ball through the cupopening. It can readily be seen that when the golf balls enter the slot24 after leaving the turf material 22 on the panel inserts 60, 70because of errant putts, that the slope of the device 10 will return theballs to the golfer at the base.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, toinclude variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and mannerof operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obviousto one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to thoseillustrated in the drawings and described in the specification areintended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

I claim:
 1. A golf practice putting device, comprising in combination: aplaner upper section having an upper surface and a lower surface, afirst end and a second end, an end wall, side edges, and further havinga passage positioned at a predetermined location through the sectiontherethrough; a planer lower section having an upper surface and a lowersurface, a first end and a second end, and side edges; upstandingparallel side walls formed on the upper surfaces of the upper sectionand the lower section, the walls attached to the edges of the sections;a ridge affixed on the upper surfaces of the upper section and lowersection defining a channel, and whereby a slot is defined between anouter perimeter of the partition, and the end wall of the upper section,and the side walls of the lower section and the upper section; a panelinsert mounted in the channel, whereby the panel insert has a passagedefined therethrough positioned at a predetermined location in alignmentwith the passage of the upper section; simulated turf material securedto an upper surface of the panel insert; opposed elevation adjustmentmeans secured to the upper section; and hinge means connected to thelower surface of the upper section and the lower section.
 2. The deviceof claim 1, further comprising the side walls formed on the uppersurface of the upper section having a bore formed therethrough and athreaded brass insert being mounted in the bore, wherein the adjustmentmeans are comprised of an outwardly threaded rod mateable with theinsert with a knob at first end of the rod and a round head nut at asecond end of the rod.
 3. The device of claim 3, further comprising atleast one platform having an upper planer surface and a lower planersurface, and further having an indentation of predetermined size formedin the upper surface to securely engage with the round head nut of theadjustment means.
 4. The device of claim 3, further comprising a rimintegrally formed in the passage of the upper section and an insertmember mountable on the rim.
 5. A golf practice putting device,comprising in combination: a planer upper section having an uppersurface and a lower surface, a first end and a second end, an end wall,side edges, and further having an opening positioned at a predeterminedlocation through the section therethrough; a planer lower section havingan upper surface and a lower surface, a first end and a second end, andside edges; upstanding parallel side walls formed on the upper surfacesof the upper section and lower section, the walls attached to the edgesof the sections; a ridge affixed on the upper surfaces of the uppersection and lower section defining a channel, and whereby a slot isdefined between an outer perimeter of the partition, and the end wall ofthe upper section, and the side walls of the lower section and the uppersection; a first panel insert mounted in the channel, whereby the firstpanel insert has a passage defined therethrough positioned at apredetermined location in alignment with the passage of the uppersection; a second panel insert mounted in the channel abutting againstthe first panel insert; simulated turf material secured to uppersurfaces of the panel inserts; opposed elevation adjustment meanssecured to the upper section, wherein the adjustment means comprises anoutwardly threaded rod mateable with a threaded brass insert beingmounted in a bore in the side walls of the upper section, and furthercomprises a knob at first end of the rod and a round head nut at asecond end of the rod; at least one platform having an upper planersurface and a lower planer surface, and further having an indentation ofpredetermined size formed in the upper surface to securely engage withthe round head nut of the adjustment means; and hinge means connected tothe lower surface of the upper section and the lower section.